Joe Gibbs Takes Different Route

02/22/2015

The game of football teaches many valuable lessons that help players and coaches succeed on and off the field.

Through football, Gold Jacket Joe Gibbs was able to successfully transition into a team owner in NASCAR after his first stint in the NFL as a head coach. As a NASCAR team owner, Joe Gibbs Racing has won three NASCAR Cup Series Championships.

Gibbs learned to overcome adversity while he coached the Washington Redskins to three Super Bowl victories. He experienced many players dealing with injuries, which forced him to adjust lineups and game plans each week.

He is currently dealing with roster injuries as a NASCAR team owner. His star driver Kyle Busch is currently sidelined with a broken leg for today's season-opening Daytona 500 race, forcing him to adjust his lineup once again with Matt Crafton driving Busch’s No. 18 Toyota.

Gibbs experienced a similar situation during the 1987 season with the Redskins. With the team’s leading rusher George Rogers dealing with injuries, Gibbs made the decision to start rookie running back Timmy Smith, who saw limited action during the season, in Super Bowl XXII. The decision paid off as Smith ran for a Super Bowl record 204 yards.

Will Crafton find success in today’s big race as Smith did in Super Bowl XXII? Find out by watching the race live on FOX Network.Back to news